Delsfishes
Member
Thanks Felix
I will keep posting
I will keep posting
Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter mile sq. reefer
- Start date
- Status
vader88
Dolphin Finatic
I'm trying to decide between a IceCap Ballast and Pendant. Should I go with a 150w or 175w ? I was thinking about the 250w but was worried about heat issues and want to avoid a chiller.
This will be my first time dealing with SPS also, I'm mainly shooting for SPS and clams in this tank. Will I be able to keep them in the bottom of the tank or will they need to be placed high.
Thanks for any input.
This will be my first time dealing with SPS also, I'm mainly shooting for SPS and clams in this tank. Will I be able to keep them in the bottom of the tank or will they need to be placed high.
Thanks for any input.
icechimpee
Time is Money
Vader,
I've been using the 175w icecap ballast with a lumenarc pendent and my temp is normally at 78˚. I too debated on the 250w ballast but decided against it due to potential extra costs (chiller).
Not sure on the last part of your Q, curious though.
I've been using the 175w icecap ballast with a lumenarc pendent and my temp is normally at 78˚. I too debated on the 250w ballast but decided against it due to potential extra costs (chiller).
Not sure on the last part of your Q, curious though.
FiShTaCo
Active member
Sps does well in the Solana, being 24" deep, with just a 150w halide. I have my sps, in a Solana, under 150w Sunpod. My sps are placed middle to high in tank, depending on species.
NC I thought gets hot weather, even more humid, than SoCal,.....I would need a chiller even with a 175w here. If you want the best color out of certain species, then of course you would get a higher watt, and a chiller, maybe even a bigger tank!
Though, for growth on sps 150w over the Solana is excellent. I hate the thought of running a chiller on an AIO nano =)
Clams do great under 150w in a Solana...Crocea sp. up high....all other species mid-low, until they get too huge to stay
What species sps do you wish to keep?
Montipora species do especially well in low-mid light.
NC I thought gets hot weather, even more humid, than SoCal,.....I would need a chiller even with a 175w here. If you want the best color out of certain species, then of course you would get a higher watt, and a chiller, maybe even a bigger tank!
Though, for growth on sps 150w over the Solana is excellent. I hate the thought of running a chiller on an AIO nano =)Clams do great under 150w in a Solana...Crocea sp. up high....all other species mid-low, until they get too huge to stay
What species sps do you wish to keep?
Montipora species do especially well in low-mid light.
Last edited:
DheereCrossing
New member
Fishtaco - do you have the sunpod on it's legs on the rim of the tank or suspended? I've done both - the reason I ask is on it's legs, the bulb is about 6-8 inches off the water but with the pendant, it was about 12-14 inches. You get better spread with it higher but more intensity with it lower.
I'd agree that 150w on a 20" deep tank is fine for sps and clams but only at less than 10" off the surface OR with a kick butt reflector like a lumenbright or something. What'd you think?
I'd agree that 150w on a 20" deep tank is fine for sps and clams but only at less than 10" off the surface OR with a kick butt reflector like a lumenbright or something. What'd you think?
Chiefmcfuz
New member
Does anyone have issues with the stock return pump? What would you upgrade it to that has the proper GPH for return?
Hooked4life
New member
I think everything behind the Cardiff is identical to the Solana. As cool as the Cardiff looks, I wouldn't get it because I think it will be a pain to clean that curved glass.
JMHO
DheereCrossing
New member
Yea - the Cardiff is harder to clean I'd guess without getting your arm in the tank with a pad scrubber and also my wife didn't want a bent glass tank front because she hates the distortion but loves the flat front of the solana.
El Camaron
New member
either way you choose you will have a nice tank, it really depends on what you want. I chose the solana because i like the square look but my LFS has a cardif available and under close inspection it is a solana with round glass, in the end it would probably look sick once its set up.
Cleaning it wont be too much of a hassle, you will have to stick your hand in for proper cleaning of glass but who doesnt stick their hand in their tank.
I would see a problem if you wanted to set up a frag station on the glass since it is nice and round it may be difficult but you can always set it up on the back wall .
good luck with your descicion, let us know what you bought.
Cleaning it wont be too much of a hassle, you will have to stick your hand in for proper cleaning of glass but who doesnt stick their hand in their tank.
I would see a problem if you wanted to set up a frag station on the glass since it is nice and round it may be difficult but you can always set it up on the back wall .
good luck with your descicion, let us know what you bought.
Hooked4life
New member
In my opinion the difficult part will be scraping any hard algae off the glass near the bottom of the tank, because you'll have to scrape from left to right along the curve of the glass. That will be difficult and cause water to slosh over the edge unless you've very careful.
Not an insurmountable problem, but just something to think about if one's never owned a curved glass tank.
Again -- JMHO
El Camaron
New member
true but i have found that none of the products out there really work for cleaning this hard algue, and the ones that come close alwasy make a splash. What i use is a razor and it scrapes it with little to no effort, so far has not created any splashing and the glass looks good. I do watch to not get too close to the seals, dont want to mess those up.
Chiefmcfuz
New member
Anyone with pump info? Is this Jebao pump a ticking time bomb that needs to be replaced? If so what did you replace it with?
Hooked4life
New member
I had a lot of restart problems with the stock pump and I wasn't happy with the flow. I upgraded to a Quiet One 2200--fits in the pump compartment, runs quiet and has improved the flow. Attached to a 1/2" Sea Swirl it gives me mega flow.
Finally got my light. The LFS screwed up and got me a Sundial 250 with some new hanging poles instead of the Sunpod 250 I ordered. He kept confusing me by telling me different things every time I'd call and ask about it.
Any case, I like the Sundial. It looks good hanging over the tank. I wanted the Sunpod 250 but I think this is a better deal and looks better. Pics to follow after I get my sand bed and rock looking right
Here's a pic of the setup from Marine Depot though: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...view~idProduct~CU80028~idCategory~FIAQCK.html
This whole tank was just a pain overall ( stand installation, getting my light from the LFS ) so I hope i get good results from my corals
Any case, I like the Sundial. It looks good hanging over the tank. I wanted the Sunpod 250 but I think this is a better deal and looks better. Pics to follow after I get my sand bed and rock looking right
Here's a pic of the setup from Marine Depot though: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...view~idProduct~CU80028~idCategory~FIAQCK.html
This whole tank was just a pain overall ( stand installation, getting my light from the LFS ) so I hope i get good results from my corals
ximmortaldeathx
New member
Hey hows it going.
I also live in Miramar!
ill post pics of my solana later on.
- Status
